Midway Station, Wissler Run

F i s h in g Cr e e k

Martic Township

Drumore Township

NIS FUR S RD

FU RN ISS RD

D E R N DAL RIVER RD GLE

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PARK DR F E R N G L E S N U S D Q R U E H A N N O R C IV K E R D

V R UE ek D re R C N ng Fishi H A R M O N R Y RI DGE D

Lancaster County Natural Heritage Inventory Update 2008

Legend Susquehanna River Species of concern core habitat Natural Heritage Area Roads RD Supporting Landscape PA Turnpike W YORK O LL Streams All other roads O H PEACH BOTTOM N Riparian Buffer Municipal Boundary O T N E Miles B 0 0.25 0.5 1 Midway Station, Wissler Run Midway Station, Wissler Run – High significance

PNHP Rank1 State Last Observed Species of Concern: Quality2 Global State Status1 (y-m-d)

Plants: Bradley’s spleenwort ( bradleyi) G4 S1 PE 1995-10-30 BC Lobed spleenwort (Asplenium pinnatifidum) G4 S3 PR 1995-10-30 D American holly (Ilex opaca) G5 S2 PT 1995-10-30 D Cranefly orchid (Tipularia discolor) G4G5 S3 PR 2006-04-25 B

1 Please refer to Appendix IV for an explanation of PNHP ranks and legal status 2 Please refer to Appendix V for an explanation of quality ranks

Location: o Municipalities: o Drumore township o USGS Quadrangles: o Holtwood Quadrangle o 1990 Lancaster County Natural Areas Inventory reference: o “Susquehannock State Park: SP564” – (Holtwood Quadrangle)

Species of Concern Considerations: : o Bradley’s spleenwort is a of very limited distribution in Pennsylvania. Rock outcrops along the river-facing slopes provide habitat for Bradley’s spleenwort at this location. Portions of the population occur on outcrops directly adjacent to the railroad rights-of-way. Indiscriminate herbicide use along the railroad has eliminated portions of this population in the past few years. Rock outcroppings along this section of the track should be posted as “no spray” zones and vegetation managed by mechanical means only, with the presence of the species of concern always a consideration. Removal of the forested canopy around rock outcrops could alter the microhabitat conditions that the fern presently benefits from; therefore, logging operations should not occur within the core habitat for this species. All of the currently known populations of this in PA occur on rock outcrops along the Susquehanna River or other scattered locations in Lancaster County. Since all of this plant’s limited occurrences in PA are in Lancaster County, the County has a proportionally large responsibility for its continued existence in the state. The exact location of this species at all locations in the county should be limited to authorized researchers to avoid its extirpation by unauthorized collection. There are numerous outcrops in this area that should be considered potential habitat for this species. Additional surveys are recommended to more accurately determine the current extent of this species. o The lobed spleenwort is a small fern that grows on dry shaded cliffs and rock outcrops, particularly on sandstone and schist. There are numerous lightly shaded rock outcrops along the Susquehanna River that potentially support additional populations of this species. The viability of existing populations and its rock outcrop habitat may be enhanced by establishing a surrounding buffer of forest. Removal of the forested canopy around rock outcrops could alter the microhabitat conditions that the fern presently benefits from; therefore, logging operations should not occur within the core habitat for this species. A “no spray” zone should be established near all rock outcrops along this section of the railroad rights-of-way. Additional surveys are recommended to more accurately determine the current extent of this species.

377 Midway Station, Wissler Run

o A few scattered American holly trees of varying age occur within this area. Populations of holly in the lower Susquehanna ravines are some of the few to be considered native to the state, and not the result of cultivation, or naturalized from cultivated specimens. Collecting for holiday greens may be the biggest threat for this species at this location. o The cranefly orchid is a plant of moist, rich forests. It is usually found individually, with few other specimens in the area. It can be easily overlooked due to its small size and individual nature. The entire rich, moist, forest environment should be considered potential habitat for this plant. Maintain the native forest canopy and encourage native tree and shrub recruitment into the understory to continue to provide sufficient available habitat for this species.

Forest Cover / Natural Communities: The plant community types depicted are only approximations delineated from 2005 aerial photography interpretation and were followed up with minimal selective ground-truthing. Community types follow “Terrestrial & Palustrine Plant Communities of Pennsylvania” (Fike 1999) where appropriate, and describe general land cover types where they are not (*). o The entire species of concern core habitat has a continuous forest canopy, while approximately 45% of the supporting landscape is forested. The Natural Heritage Area includes two large interior forest patches that are separated by an access road and the building infrastructure of Susquehannock State Park. The area is dominated by dry oak-heath forest with smaller patches of other natural community types scattered as topography, sunlight and available moisture dictate including: o Terrestrial (upland) communities: o Hemlock-tuliptree-birch forest o Tuliptree-beech-maple forest o Dry oak-mixed hardwood forest o Dry oak-heath forest o modified successional forest*

Ownership: o Approximately 230 acres, or 32%, of the Natural Heritage Area is under management of Susquehannock State Park. o The Exelon Corporation owns approximately 20% of the Natural Heritage Area, part of the Muddy Run Reservoir area west of Wissler Run. o The Lancaster County Conservancy owns approximately 19 acres, or 13% of the Natural Heritage Area. o Norfolk Southern Railroad Corporation owns a rights-of-way along the banks of the Susquehanna River. o Most of the remaining area of the Natural Heritage Area is owned by a few large landowners maintained as active agricultural fields. o There is a cluster of smaller residential lots along Rivervue Drive. Ownership fragmentation diminishes the future prospects for preservation of large landscape scale features.

Habitat Disturbances: o Historic – o Aerial photographs from 1940 show that agricultural fields existed up to the edge of the bluffs overlooking the Susquehanna River as they do today. The areas of steepest slope were wooded, while all readily tillable land was in agriculture, which continues to be the situation at this location. The railroad was already along the river shoreline by 1940. o Current – o Since 1940, the Muddy Run Reservoir was constructed on the northern border of this Natural Heritage Area, flooding Muddy Run. Supporting infrastructure for the pumping station added access roads and buildings along Wissler Run and the shore of the

378 Midway Station, Wissler Run

Susquehanna River. The access road to the riverside pumping station has spoiled the formerly undisturbed character of Wissler Run and fragmented the large interior forest block that occurred here. o The railroad along the Susquehanna shoreline impedes animal movement from the river to the uplands and visa versa, especially for small animals like turtles and salamanders that would consider the railroad an insurmountable obstacle. o Herbicide use for vegetation management along the railroad has resulted in the decimation of a portion of this population of Bradley’s spleenwort. o Overbrowsing by white-tailed deer is a serious threat to the overall understory plant diversity. An overabundance of deer can create the effect of park-like forests in which the understory and vertical stratification is greatly reduced. Removal of understory species eliminates habitat for some nesting songbirds as well as increases competition between deer and other wildlife due to reduced food sources. Furthermore, deer prefer higher quality food leaving poorer, less diverse species to mature and dominant the overstory. o Exotic Species – o Notes from past field surveys of the area do not indicate many of plants at this location, though Japanese honeysuckle was considered well established. In all likelihood, invasive species dominate the borders of the railroad rights-of-way along the river shoreline as well as the transition zones between forested and agricultural habitats. Invasive species control efforts at this location should concentrate on maintaining weed free conditions where they exist and eliminating pioneer populations of invasive species in newly invaded habitats, effectively enlarging the weed-free habitat.

Conservation Actions:

Overall: • The primary conservation concern for this area should be to focus on preserving the forested connections along the Susquehanna River ravines while safeguarding the habitat for the two rock outcrop dwelling fern species, Bradley’s spleenwort and lobed spleenwort. The rock outcrops along the railroad in this area should be established as “no spray” zones and vegetation management conducted with the knowledge of native plants in the immediate vicinity. • In addition, conservation efforts should focus on safeguarding the quality and expanse of the forested landscape of the area. While providing the primary habitat for the populations of species of concern, the forested landscape also helps to protect water quality of the small streams that drain through this Natural Heritage Area into the Susquehanna River and provides refuge and habitat for other forest dependent species. Prevent fragmentation and incursions into the forested landscape. Suppress the establishment and spread of invasive species of plants. Encourage the regeneration of native trees, shrubs and herbaceous layers. The forest cover should be allowed to achieve old-growth characteristics.

Within the Core Habitat: • Provide for the long-term protection of the core habitat. • A significant portion of the core habitat along the river bluffs is currently private property and should be considered a priority for acquisition or conservation easements for this Natural Heritage Area. The steep, rocky nature of the immediate habitat of the species of concern likely precludes most types of development activity. The flatter hilltops, however, could prove tempting building sites. • Indiscriminate railroad herbicide use is inappropriate for this location. Establish “no spray” zones at rock outcrops adjacent to the railroad.

379 Midway Station, Wissler Run

Within the Natural Heritage Area / Supporting Landscape: The supporting landscape for this area is derived from the Wissler Run Watershed and the adjacent Susquehanna River viewshed. Activities within the watershed can have a direct impact on the core habitats and the species of concern it contains. • The riparian corridor of Wissler Run in the supporting landscape is conspicuously forested through most of its course in what appears to be good quality forest communities. Conservation and expansion of the forested riparian corridor of Wissler Run should be considered a priority for activities within the supporting landscape for this area. The ultimate headwaters of Wissler Run pass unbuffered though active pastures. These areas should be fenced to exclude livestock and encouraged to be reforested. (See riparian buffer guidelines.) Forested zones along creeks help filter runoff from roads, residences and agricultural areas, cleansing the runoff before it enters larger streams and rivers. Forested creek edges also slow runoff, allowing the water to recharge the groundwater. These narrow corridors are highly susceptible to colonization by invasive species of plants. Target pioneer populations of invasive plants for immediate and continued removal, particularly tree-of-heaven, non-native bush honeysuckles, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose and common privet. • Conservation easements should be sought for forested and agricultural properties adjacent to the Natural Heritage Area to provide a buffer to this habitat and to help provide connectivity to other nearby Natural Heritage Areas. Additional populations of species of concern could occur on adjacent parcels. • Agricultural fields within the Natural Heritage Area should be encouraged to return to forest to expand the area of interior forest at this location and to provide an additional buffer for the core habitat. Reforestation efforts should be designed to mimic the adjacent natural community type by planting a similar composition of native trees and shrubs or varying age classes. Reforestation is a labor intensive effort that requires long term monitoring and maintenance to avoid infestation by invasive species of plants. • Avoid logging in this area. • Allow the forest to return to near old-growth conditions. • Leave fallen trees in place to help build soil nutrients, humus, tilth and animal microhabitats. ƒ Trees that have fallen over approved trails can be cut through as necessary. • Remove invasive species of plants, trees and shrubs. The railroad rights-of-way and forest/agricultural transition zones are the likely location of non-native trees and shrubs within this area. • Encourage native tree and shrub recruitment. ƒ Reduce the size of the deer herd. Native species of plants are particularly susceptible to deer herbivory. • Block access to forested areas by off road vehicles, ATVs and other motorized vehicles. • Additional surveys for species of concern are recommended. • Streams through forested areas should be considered high priority for conservation in the habitat. Streams through non-forested areas should be reforested with native trees and shrubs appropriate to the habitat. Careful determination is needed to avoid planting trees in floodplains that contain herbaceous wetland habitats. These habitats should be maintained in their current open condition, with tree plantings to occur at the periphery of natural wetland openings. See riparian corridor section for site specific recommendations. • Ideal forested stream buffers should be 100 meters (~300 feet) in width from the edge of the 100-year floodplain • Intermediate forested buffer of 100 feet in width from the edge of the 100-year floodplain • Minimum forested buffer of 35 feet in width from the edge of the 100-year floodplain

380 Midway Station, Wissler Run

• Potential zoning options for conservation enhancement: • Strict enforcement of regulations restricting building activity on slopes greater than 25% will provide protection for approximately 90% of the area within the core habitat, ~43% of the Natural Heritage Area and ~15% of the supporting landscape. • Zoning regulations should discourage further fragmentation of contiguous or interior forest blocks. Adjacent parcels currently forested should be zoned to conserve this attribute. • Adjacent parcels currently in agriculture that are of high quality agricultural soils should be zoned agricultural and considered fully built-out. Poorer quality agricultural soils should be encouraged to regenerate into forest cover. • Growth within the Township should be discouraged to occur within the core or supporting landscape identified for this area.

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